"What does that mean?"
I stopped what I was doing and looked in his eyes directly, even though I knew I shouldn't. Instantly, we were out of scene, out of our roles, and back into reality.
"My instructor's great," I s
aid. " Talia's really talented and a good teacher. She said some really nice things about my work. She also said I shouldn't be in that class because it was below my skill level and she wanted me to take a master class she teaches on Thursday nights."
He raised his eyebrows and seemed pleased. "That's great. You are talented. Come here," he said and waved me over. I went to him and he pulled me into his arms, and onto his lap so that I sat on his knee. "I'm so glad for you that it went well." He kissed me, warmly, and then pulled away, brushing hair off my cheek. "What part wasn't so great?"
I hesitated. How did I put it?
"Sefton deVilliers brought his class into our room for the second part so his students could use the nude model. They're going to share the room with us during every class for a month or so."
"Oh…" he said, his voice trailing off. He frowned. "Did he pester you?"
I nodded. "He commented on my choker again and then he asked me if we were 24/7."
"What?" Drake's face blanched. "He asked if we were 24/7?"
I nodded. "When I asked him what he meant, he tried to say he meant to ask if I wore my choker 24/7, but I'm pretty sure he really did want to know whether we are a 24/7 couple."
"Damn…" Drake rubbed his eyes. "Did he say anything else?"
"He tried to give me a ride home, but I had already called Jomo and luckily, he arrived and I was able to escape."
Drake shook his head. "Well, maybe you should drop the drawing class like your instructor suggested and take the master class on Thursday nights. I usually work late Thursday anyway, so I won't feel deprived of your attentions."
I bit my bottom lip and looked in his eyes.
"What?" he said, frowning.
"Sefton co-teaches the master class…"
"Oh, no," he said, pulling away a bit, glancing at the window. "No." He turned back to me. "I don’t want you taking a class from him."
"I don’t want to either, but it's either take the day class or night class."
He took in a deep breath. "Maybe you should stay in your day class."
"Or no class at all," I added.
"No," Drake said and shook his head. "You have to take a class." He paused for a moment. "You said he was only going to share space with your class for a month?"
I nodded and played with his shirt collar. "Yes, for a month or so."
Drake sighed. "I'm sorry this had to happen to you. You see?" he said and bent down to look in my eyes. "You are a very delicious woman. Other men will want you. Will hit on you. I can see I'm going to spend a lot of my time away from you being jealous of their attentions."
"I don’t want their attentions, Drake," I said, protesting. "I only want yours. Honestly. I wish I'd never met him, he's so pushy and annoying and everything he says has a double meaning. He's so…"
"Dominant?" Drake said and cracked a rueful grin. "We tend to be persistent, we Doms, but usually only with those already in the lifestyle and only if we are certain of interest. To pursue someone who isn't interested is boorish." He took in a deep breath, and ran a finger over my bottom lip. "So you think he's a Dom?"
I hesitated. Now I knew he was.
"There's something else," I said, my voice soft.
"What?" When I hesitated, he turned my face to his, his expression dark. "Tell me."
"He said something."