I try not to bristle at the question. I’m new to this position and, more, the submissive role I find easiest is the sweet virginal sub. Innocent and wide eyed and soft in every way. It’s been a safe role to play, even if it’s starting to chafe. “I can handle it.”
“Good girl.” She gifts me with another sharp smile. “Want a drink before things pick up?”
“Sure.”
We end up leaning against the bar while Tisiphone pours whiskey into two glasses. I never used to have the taste for it before I came here, but Meg’s brought me around. It helps that she knows what she’s about and she’s got expensive taste. I sip mine, reveling in the warmth that immediately spreads through my stomach. One drink isn’t enough to get me anywhere near buzzed, but the warmth? The only other time I feel that sort of thing is when I’m in a scene. I crave it.
I’m facing the door, which is why I see her the moment she enters the room. Malone. She’s got her white-blond hair swept back from her face and she’s wearing deep green harem pants that should look absolutely ridiculous, but somehow she pulls them off. Her white blouse has a deep V, the slice of pale skin making my mouth water despite knowing better. Malone is all predator, and arguably the most dangerous person in this city, even including Hades. She’s one of the few territory leaders who has a fully legit business that she’s CEO of, while also ruling the less savory bits of her slice of the city with an iron fist.
She catches me watching her and holds my gaze for a long moment. I try to maintain eye contact. I do. But her dominance overwhelms me this time, just like it always has in the past, and I drop my gaze.
My next sip of whiskey isn’t nearly as enjoyable as the first. It would be so easy to take it as a shot, to embrace that warmth as a distraction from the woman currently sliding into her customary booth. Instead, I slide the glass away.
“Have you considered hair of the dog?”
Meg’s voice startles me, which tells me exactly how off-balance I am. I glance at her. “What?”
“You two haven’t had a scene together since that first time.” She watches me over the top of her glass. “Might be best to just do it again and get past whatever’s going on with you.”
“No.” I don’t mean to sound so firm, like I’m slamming the door in her face, but the thought of scening with Malone again… I can’t do it. I won’t. I have embraced every Dom and Domme who I’ve played with over the last few years, and gladly. They all have their styles and preferences, and they all respect my part in playing out our mutual fantasies.
Malone… It took her less than an hour to crack me open and break me into a thousand pieces. Maybe I could have forgiven her that, maybe, but she ignored me for months after that night. Continues to act like I’m an interesting piece of the background and not a person with thoughts and feelings of my own. I wasn’t prepared for how much that would sting, for how much it continues to sting, and I’ll be damned before I let her that close again.
Not that she’s even attempted it.
I can feel my skin getting hot and angry, and I almost sag in relief when Gaeton’s familiar massive form strides through the door. “Duty calls.”
“Aurora.”
I stop short. “Yeah?”
“You can talk to me if you need to.”
I know that, but what is there to say? That Malone is the only person who tempted me into letting my heart get mixed up in things, and she’s the same one who reinforced the reason I keep that part of myself locked away at all times? Meg might understand… Or she might decide to meddle. I can’t take that risk, so I give her a bright smile. “I know.”
I stride to Gaeton, putting a little swing in my step. Tonight I’m wearing a flirty mini skirt that swishes around my thighs and a lace bra that leaves nothing to the imagination. Thigh-high white stockings complete the pseudo schoolgirl look.
Gaeton sees me coming and gives me a grin that’s a shadow of his normal one. “Hey, Aurora.”
“Hey, big guy.” I stop just short of touching him and give him a smile. “Want to play with me tonight?”
His smile dims, his dark eyes tormented. “I don’t know if you want to deal with where my head’s at tonight, honey.”
If I didn’t already plan on helping him forget his troubles for a little bit, his hesitance now would cement it. I take his big hand and tug him closer, wrapping him around me. Gaeton’s hands can nearly bracket my waist, and the size difference sends a delightful thrill through me tonight just like it always has in the past. “Why don’t you let me decide that for myself?” I hook my fingers in the band of his slacks. “I can take anything you need to give me.”