“That’s a big step for most people and one I thought you’d have questions about.” Russ was giving me another serious look that made me want to squirm.
“Um, Bradley’s been yelling at me about budgets and watching everything I spend for so long that it never occurred to me to protest.” I shrugged, still not worried.
They didn’t know the rest of the guys well enough to understand. “Money isn’t my trigger. I guess because I’m surrounded by it all the time, it’s not a hot button for me. I live on my own income, but they’d never let anything happen to me, and Bradley hovers over everyone’s bank accounts. I haven’t made a decision about money on my own in years.”
And really, Austin would bury their bodies six feet under if they did anything to hurt me, so I wasn’t really worried about anything like that.
When they still looked at me oddly, I nodded. “Bradley yelled at me last week for buying more paints than I’d budgeted for. He’s insane, but I had to justify that I had money left over from my food budget last week before he’d relax. Then he started threatening to tell Wade I wasn’t eating right.”
That had been an insane phone call. He either needed a Dom or some kind of happy drug to take the edge off.
They looked at each other, doing another one of those mind conversations. “Seriously.”
Finally nodding, they both relaxed back in their seats and started playing with their mugs again. I wasn’t the one who was stressed or in charge, so I just relaxed and enjoyed my coffee as I mentally walked through the studio, trying to remember what projects I’d left half done.
Was that painting still unfinished or was it something else that was in the far corner?
Maybe I’d left that weird little sculpture back there?
When someone laughed, I blinked and saw them both grinning. “What?”
“You didn’t hear anything I said, did you?” Russ didn’t seem upset, but I wasn’t happy to have to tell him no.
“I’m sorry.” What had I missed? “I was thinking.”
Kind of.
“Planning.” I glanced between them. “I didn’t mean to ignore you.”
Shit. If I was going to be punished, I wanted it to be for something good, like one of Austin’s escapades. Russ was grinning as Graham shook his head. Russ finally broke the silence, leaning closer to run a hand over my head. “You were nodding and everything.”
“Sorry, habit from when I was in school, I guess.”
Graham gave me a look like that was an issue he was going to pay close attention to. For some reason, it made the butterflies whirl in my stomach. My Master wanted to figure me out. It was cute and sexy all at the same time.
He finally glanced over at Russ, raising one eyebrow. “Did he just say we were boring?”
Russ laughed but nodded like it was a terrible problem. “I think so. I have a feeling we’re going to have to work hard to keep our boy’s attention. Restraints and more toys are going to be a must.”
Oh.
More toys?
That sounded scary and promising all at the same time…I had a feeling having Masters was going to be better than I’d imagined.
****
“You’re going to what?” Tanner’s voice was quiet, but his expression was making me nervous.
“Say it again. He’s turning a fabulous shade of purple.” Austin’s grin widened when Wade smacked him.
“Stop that. He doesn’t look okay.” Wade reached across the couch and rested his hand on Tanner’s shoulder. “Are you okay?”
No, that was clear.
I just wasn’t sure why it looked like he was having a heart attack. “It’s going to be fine.”
That didn’t help.
