I dropped my phone into my bag and turned around in his embrace. “Yeah, you should know he’s entirely serious. The guy does carry a Taser and a gun.”
“I don’t doubt it. He stopped by my apartment that morning we ran into him coming back from the hotel to give me the stay-away message.”
I gaped. “He did what?”
“Don’t worry about it. I respect that.” Foster cupped my chin and pressed a quick kiss to my lips before stepping back and letting me go. “A brother should be overprotective of his sister. It’s his job.”
Something in his tone made me frown. It was like one moment there was comfortable intimacy between us and the next there was this instant distance, like he’d vaulted onto the other side of some wall. But before I could ask him what was wrong, he was heading toward the door.
“Come on, angel,” he said, holding out his hand. “Don’t want to be late for what I have planned this morning.”
My throat tightened at the thought. I hadn’t seen much of what lay outside these doors. Andre had introduced me to his friend, Master Colby, and had set up the plan, but then Colby had led me straight here through a bunch of hallways. Now that I’d raced here to try this with Foster, my nerves at the unknown were catching up. Here, between four walls, just me and Foster was comfortable. But I knew there was a whole other world outside—a world I knew nothing about, really. “What exactly do you have planned?”
Foster’s brows lowered as his hand closed around mine. “First lesson. When we’re here or in this mode at home, you don’t get to question every move I make. You have to learn to trust me. If something truly frightens you or goes to a place you don’t want, you use your safe word. But other than that, I’m in charge. Do you understand?”
I bit my lip at his gentle admonishment. “Yes . . . sir. Wait, am I supposed to call you master?”
Somehow the word didn’t sound right in my mouth. It made it seem like a game, and that’s not what this felt like.
He considered me a moment, his blue eyes evaluating. “Everyone here calls me Master Ian.”
“Oh, right,” I said, looking down at our linked hands. “The other women here.”
The last part was out before I realized I’d spoken the thought. And I hated that it came out sounding so petulant. Grow up, Cela.
He sighed. “No, not just the women. It’s how doms are addressed here. But I also can’t stand here and say that I’ve never been with other submissives here.”
My stomach felt like it was made of knotted rubber bands, snapping and popping. “I know.”
“Look at me,” he said. Reluctantly, I did. “While we’re together, you have my absolute word that I won’t touch another woman. And I expect the same faithfulness from you. But I can’t pretend that I don’t have a past. I’m not a kid, Cela.”
“Right,” I said, irritation welling in me. “Like me, you mean.”
Displeasure shadowed his features. “Don’t put words in my mouth. All I’m saying is getting jealous over people I was with before I knew you is a waste of energy. If they were that spectacular, I’d be with them now, right?”
Logically, I knew that. But it didn’t stop the ugly emotion from brewing in me like some poison. I tried to tamp it down. “So why Ian and not Foster?”
“Because it gives me some sense of privacy. No one in my everyday life calls me Ian. But I don’t want you calling me what other submissives have. You are going to be part of my life outside of here. So call me what you’ve always called me. Foster.”
Something relaxed in me at that. I was different than those other women. I needed to hear that, needed to believe it. “So no ‘master’?”
He smirked. “You hate that idea, don’t you?”
I tried to fight my smile—to no avail. “Honestly, I think I’d have trouble keeping a straight face. It makes me think of a hunchbacked Igor. Yessss, Masssster.”
He shook his head, but I could tell he was amused. “Well, we can’t have that. Though after you’re exposed to the lifestyle for a while, it may begin to take on a different connotation for you. But like I said, call me by name. And if sir feels natural to you, use it. If it doesn’t, then don’t. I’m not that concerned about semantics.”
Sir did come surprisingly easy to me, even that first night. I blew out a breath. “Thank you.”
His eyebrow lifted. “You seem surprised.”
I pushed an escaped lock
of hair behind my ear. “I guess I’m not sure what to expect yet, how much say I have in . . . this kind of thing.”
“Which is exactly why you need to come with me,” he said, opening the door. “If we’re going to do this. Let’s get those eyes wide open.”
Oh, boy.