Even without Julian and Niall, it was stillenough people to make me feel self-conscious, so I clammed up again.
I knew it wasn’t exactly what Stuart hadbeen going for, but I just couldn’t help it. Trying to get to know peoplealways ended up going badly or just awkwardly, and I didn’t want either ofthose to happen with Stuart’s friends.
Thankfully Master knew I wasn’t exactlycomfortable being the center of attention, so he turned to Warner who wassitting on his other side and grinned. “Ordered any pizza lately?”
The teasing question had everyone laughingand turning to give the laid-back-looking Dom a hard time. He took the teasingin stride and pulled the attention to himself.
Probably a very deliberate action, which Iappreciated.
“I’m going to have to start going throughthe phone book. I can’t have Italian anymore. She’s starting to throw morerelatives my way and I got a note with someone’s phone number on Friday.” Hegrinned wider as the laughter got louder. “I’m open to suggestions.”
“My suggestion was to grow a pair and justask the pizza boy out.” Stuart chuckled as Warner gave him a teasing punch on thearm, encouraging the raucous behavior.
I was content to watch because I thoughtthey were entertaining, but Landon seemed to think I needed a friend or maybejust company. For some reason he was seated on my right, so he just had to leanover and drop his voice to keep his comment private. “I never expected Doms toget nervous about asking someone out. What about you?”
The question wasn’t bad, even though hisDom had probably been the one to push him to talk to me.
Keeping my voice just as low, I nodded andmanaged a somewhat intelligent response. “I thought the confidence they radiatewould have been more consistent, but it seems that when their emotions areinvolved that confidence wavers more than I would have assumed.”
Landon gave me a curious look which had mewondering if I’d said something odd, but then he nodded and something in hisexpression made me relax. “I hadn’t thought about it that way, but you might beright.”
Of course I was right.
But I kept that to myself.
“Was it that way with your Dom?”
Wait. Was that rude?
“Ignore that question if it’sinappropriate.” Before I could find a way to apologize or decide if I neededto, Landon shrugged.
“I’m okay with answering questions. I’m notsure about the social rules for that kind of stuff, though.” When I nodded andtried to look more relaxed, he answered my question. “I was so…confused, Iguess, when I first came to the club that he had to take control and beconfident. So we were a bit different, I think.”
“That makes sense.”
I was trying to decide what to say nextwhen he took that decision out of my hands. “What about you guys? Or should Inot ask?”
That was a very good question…both of them.
Stuart had never seemed like the overlysharing type, but he also wasn’t embarrassed by our relationship, so I didn’tknow how to answer. When my silence started to make Landon nervous, I had totry to say something or risk him being offended.
And since that was not what Stuart wantedfrom me tonight, I made an attempt.
“Our case is a bit unusual because he knewme when I was young.” Dropping my voice quieter, I ignored the quick glances wewere getting from around the table. “I think he’s worried about making thewrong decision more than his emotions affecting his confidence.”
Before I could decide how to ask him tokeep that to himself, he smiled and seemed to open up a bit. “I don’t knowabout that. I’ve seen the way he looks at you. But don’t worry, I won’t sayanything to anyone.”
He glanced around and I could still see asparkle in his eyes. “I don’t really know any of them well enough to shareanyway.”
That made me grin.
“Were you bribed to talk to me or were yougoing to be punished if you didn’t try to make friends?” I knew I was rightwhen he flashed me a grin again.
He took a few seconds to actually answer.Since he seemed to be trying to decide how much to share, I waited until herelaxed and made his decision. “I get a spanking when we get home if I tried totalk more. I’m hoping this counts.”
“I think it should.” I glanced between thetwo Doms. “I think he’s going to try something like that next time. He usedguilt and nostalgia this time.”
It’d been quite effective too.
