There was the scuff of a shoe, and Rodrigo entered. She could feel him in the room. A muscle flexed in her master’s jaw, and his big body tightened with tension.
What was going on with them lately? She hated this awkward, growly undercurrent between them. It hadn’t been this bad since the day they’d pierced her nipples. If they couldn’t work out whatever was bothering them and Rodrigo – broke up with them? – she’d miss him. A lot. A pang of worry edged into the simple pleasure of the morning.
“Are you around tonight?” Mister Leduc asked Ro, easing back in his chair. He was trying to look relaxed, but she could tell he was acting.
“Loïc asked if I’d go for drinks with him. He’s going stir crazy out here.”
Minnow caught the sound of her master momentarily grinding his teeth.
“We’ll go with you.”
Rodrigo’s eyes widened.
“Or will we be in the way?” his voice was casual, but there was a lethal edge underlying it that she didn’t understand.
“I assumed you wouldn’t want to come.” Rodrigo shifted uneasily. “Of course you’re welcome to join us.”
“Should we go for dinner first?”
Now both she and Ro were staring at him. Something was really bothering him if he was willing to go out for dinner. They never, ever went out for dinner. Trying to prove he was a better friend than Loïc? That he wasn’t as antisocial as they thought?
“Sure,” Rodrigo said, smiling unkindly. “That’ll be a blast.” He switched his gaze to Minnow and gave her an exasperated grimace. “Would you mind making dinner plans for the four of us, Min, and texting me the details? I need to get to a meeting.”
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She glanced at her master, who inclined his head.
Rodrigo walked away without saying goodbye. The front door slammed.
Master smiled at her with a feral anger that raised the hair on the back of her neck. He took hold of the chain between her breasts, and yanked off the nipple clamps with one swift jerk. She yelped, and sobbed a few times before she got herself under control. Her nipples burned and throbbed as if they had their own heartbeats. Her clit was whining for attention, and her thighs were slick.
“Miss Korsgaard,” Mr Leduc said, his voice devoid of inflection. “Braid my hair, please. I have work to do.”
Frustration burned low in her belly, but her own desires meant nothing. She lived only to serve him.
Her fingers flew through her assigned task. Between wishing he’d use her again and her concerns about Rodrigo, she almost forgot to enjoy the slide of his long, beautiful hair through her fingers.
*
Waves of surly energy rolled off Severin as it had since they’d left the house, even though this outing had been his idea. After dinner out, where wine had flowed freely and Loïc and Rodrigo had gone back and forth exchanging amusing stories, they’d decided to move down the street to some sort of classy businessman’s lounge. Loïc and Ro were chumming around at the bar as they waited for the shots they’d ordered, and Minnow could almost feel the headache Severin was getting from gritting his teeth.
“This doesn’t mean he likes Rodrigo more,” she murmured in his ear, “or that Ro likes him more.”
“I don’t own him,” he responded a bit too loudly, then took a swig out of the bottle of whisky he’d ordered. Minnow slid the still unused, old-fashioned glass toward him, but he ignored it.
Although she’d helped him dress appropriately for the outing, the clothes didn’t come with matching manners.
“He’s not going to steal your brother.”
“Like I give a fuck about that little prick,” he snapped. “I barely know him. He comes barging into my life, and for what? To hand me more cash I don’t want or need, then launch a campaign to steal the people I care about? I’m about two minutes away from busting his pretty fucking face.”
She swallowed, not sure what to make of his wrath. “Rodrigo is loyal to you. He’s trying to help show Loïc a good time.”
“If he fucks my brother, he’s never touching you again.”
His words and his rage left her gaping at him.
If Rodrigo fucks Loïc? She’d been around Ro a hell of a lot, and she’d never gotten the impression he was even remotely bisexual.