Since it seemed to be decided, I glancedover at the guys and nodded. “I’ll see you guys later. If not tonight, thennext week.”
They held back their questions and managednot to leer at Landon like he was a piece of meat, but it was close. I knew atour next—now weekly—gathering, they’d demand some answers. I just hoped I hadsome to give them at that point.
As I stood, Conner looked over at Landon.“Oh, will you do me a favor and go get me a water? Just tell the bartender it’sfor me.”
It was clearly agive me a minutetactic, but instead of getting frustrated, Landon kept his blank face firmly inplace and nodded. The only sign of his emotions was the way his shoulders seemto relax as he turned and walked toward the bar.
Laid-back Dom?
Relieved sub?
I was still leaning toward lost in someform or fashion but not straight. Conner would’ve made a straight guy nervousor, at the very least, confused. As Landon walked away, Conner grabbed my arm,and with a cheerful wave at the rest of the guys, he pulled me over a few feetfor privacy.
“He seems nice.” I was aiming for polite,but Conner scoffed.
“He’s a blank slate for the most part whohas no idea what he wants, aside from submitting to a man. Mature. In a suit.Not a boy.” Conner scanned the suit I’d tried to dress down by stripping off mytie and rolling the sleeves up.
Not taking the time to change seemed tohave worked in my favor.
“He basically described you to a T, and heneeds someone laid back, but who won’t let him hide.” Conner glanced over atLandon, who was slowly making his way back to us. I wasn’t sure what surprisedme more, that I was his type or that he’d trusted Conner enough to let him attemptto fix him up. “Is he nice?”
My question had Conner smiling. “I think hewill be, once he opens up.”
It wasn’t much to go on, but somethingabout the blank, almost resigned look in his eyes pulled at me. He was clearlyexpecting me to decline the offer to show him around for some reason.
As he walked closer, I raised my voice ahair. “I’d love to show him around.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a ghostof a smile pass over his lips before the mask fell back into place. It wasalmost like he had no idea how to really open up.
Did he understand that true submissionmeant being stripped away until there was nowhere to hide from his Dom?
Had he ever submitted?
I had more questions than I couldreasonably ask in a short period, so I didn’t even try.
Ignoring Conner’s mounting excitement, Ifocused on Landon. “I’d love to take you around the club, and if it’s okay withyou, maybe sit down and talk for a while first?”
I didn’t go over the top, but I tried tolet him see that I found him attractive.
No matter what else we did, he had to beable to accept that I was gay, and he was beyond sexy. Something ran throughhis mind because I got another smile, and for a moment he was a differentperson. Then just as fast, the sexy bad boy was gone.
All I got was a nod before he answeredcalmly. “I think I’d like that.”
Conner looked like he’d just pronounced usDom and boy, but he wasn’t too outrageous when he spoke. “Landon, I’m going tobe here for several more hours. I’m going to find you before I go, but if youneed anything or are going to leave earlier than that, please come find me.”
Then he grinned. “You really don’t want mewandering around here for ages and then calling you.”
I chuckled. “He’s a very good stalker, sowe’ll make sure he doesn’t need to send out a search party.”
My response got another quick grin beforeLandon nodded and turned to Conner. “I’ll find you if anything comes up or ifI’m ready to leave earlier than you expect.”
The relaxed, careful way he spoke remindedme of some of the young lawyers I’d met recently. They hid all their passionand drive behind a fake facade of confidence and control.
What was Landon hiding behind his wall?
Where had this guy come from?
I only had more questions when he turnedback to me and gave me a curious look. “How should I address you?”
