And maybe distract me from the drama thatwas just around the corner.
“Always.” Silas seemed to read my mindbecause he cupped my cheek and kissed me softly.
Leaning into Master, I took a long breathof his scent and tried to find a better smile. I didn’t want to have to explainto Wade and Tanner why I was so conflicted about losing the asshole. Maybe Icould have Master talk to them about who they would hire?
He could play the strict Dom and demand toknow who would be driving me around. With that idea bubbling, I was actuallyable to smile and relax. Master would know how to fix it. He was the bestMaster ever. There wasn’t anything to worry about.
Chapter 16
Silas
“I’m boooored.” Austin’s sing-song voicecalled out from the back, making the young beta in front of me blush. He wasanother regular, but he hardly ever spoke, just browsed and occasionallypurchased something.
I snorted and called back. “You chose tocome over. Suffer the consequences, Trouble.”
The beta grinned, making him look evenyounger, but he actually waved as he grabbed his package and dashed out thedoor. “Thanks.”
Trouble might be insane, but the customersfound him entertaining even if they couldn't see him. Something about knowinghe was back there pouting because he couldn't come into the store thoroughlyentertained people.
So Trouble hammed it up.
I finished the paperwork I’d been workingon when the little beta had walked in then headed to the back. Trouble wasplaying on his phone, some kind of brightly colored shooting game because hekept makingpow powsounds every time he pounded his finger on thephone.
“You’re going to break that.” I grinned ashe jumped and squealed.
“Don’t do that.” He sagged backdramatically. “You made me die.”
“I’m sure you’ve got reincarnation allfigured out.” I leaned against the doorframe, watching him grin up at me. “Diddinner with Rita go well?”
He beamed, popping up off the stairs and throwinghimself at me. “She can actually cook. It’s going to be great. I was a littleworried that they’d done a deli because they couldn't cook, but no, it wasdelicious. She’s very bossy, though, and wanted to know when you were going tomake an honest omega of me.”
Trouble rolled his eyes. “I was very goodand changed the subject instead of shocking her.”
I chuckled. “But you’d have had more funbeing honest until she was clutching her pearls and praying for your soul.”
“Yes.” He said it cheerfully and completelyunapologetically. “But she seems like the gossipy type, so I was very good.”
He said it like he expected a reward, butthe only reason he’d been good was because he really did like her and he wantedthe new business to succeed. Not that he would admit to being that sweet. He’drather pretend to be an outrageous brat.
Ignoring the play for attention, I changedthe subject. We didn’t have the time or privacy for his version of a reward.“How did the latest meeting with Jonah and Graham go?”
From what Austin had said, they were ontheir thirdmeetingfor the week. The guys were all betting that morethan plans were being studied, but so far Jonah was denying it. There were alot of things to nail down, so it was possible all they were doing was talking,but something about it felt like there was more to the story.
“Great.” Austin wiggled against me and gaveme a heated kiss. “He said Graham will start next week. The final plans lookmuch better.”
Getting everything out in the open had beenthe best decision. Yes, it had been awkward for a few minutes, but now thatGraham knew what the space would really be used for, everything was fallinginto place perfectly. The original plans would have been fine, but this wastaking the idea of a BDSM club to a whole new level.
“And no more arguments between Shane andGraham?” Austin had found their posturing ridiculous, but I could see how theywere both frustrated that the other had been keeping secrets. Having it comeout like that hadn’t been easy, but it’d been better than hiding it forever.
He shook his head. “No, Tanner said they’redoing fine, and Graham actually came over to have dinner with them last night.But Graham still isn’t saying much about his personal life, which is makingShane a bit uneasy, so we’ll have to see what happens.”
I could see the look on his face and stoppedthat thought right in its tracks. “I have no idea who he’s seeing or what he’sdoing, so don’t ask.”
And that was mostly the truth.
I had some suspicions, but it wasn’t mybusiness to get involved. “He’ll talk to everyone when he’s ready.”
Austin sighed. Waiting was painful for him.“That’s what Tanner keeps telling Shane, but I think Shane is worried aboutwhat Graham thinks about their relationship.”
