“Hey, Logan.” Ares slapped him on the back. “Good to see you.”
“You too.”
The conversation floated in the background, as Xander zeroed in on Harper. She had dropped Logan’s hand like it was a cookie from the forbidden high shelf, and her cheeks had two pink circles on them. Impressive for a woman who didn’t blush easily. She was fidgeting with her computer.
“Ready, Harper?”
“Yes, all set for tomorrow morning.”
“And will I see you tomorrow night?” Logan asked.
Harper laughed. “I’ll let you know.”
“Did I just hear you ask a submissive who is clearly under protection—my protection—out without my permission?”
Logan spread his hands far apart. “Sorry. I thought I was cleared, considering you know every single thing about me. And we’ve been for breakfast and lunch and coffee. And that one thing at Club Bandit.”
“Even still.”
“How was I to know you were a stickler for protocol? Never seen you around the club.”
Xander returned Logan’s stare and stopped himself from curling his fingers into fists.
Becoming Harper’s protector had outed him as a Dom, but there wasn’t much he wouldn’t do for her. He had decided the harm it could do him was small and if anything would go to his whole Prince of Darkness image. And he thought the only people Harper would likely encounter would be people he knew, too. Honestly, he thought her interest in BDSM was a passing curiosity.
“That’s why you ask,” Xander said.
“Xander, it’s okay. I never meant to hurt you. You were okay when he took me out the other times. At least...I assumed,” Harper said.
“And you shouldn’t have.”
Harper rubbed her arms, and Xander cursed. He wanted to wrap her and hold her and tell her there wasn’t a need she had that he couldn’t fulfil. But that would be a lie.
“Xander, I would like to take Harper to a Founder’s Night at Club Bandit. Most of the people there you’ve met, the members include people who work for you. I promise no harm will come to her.”
There weren’t many people Xander had to look up to. Logan Marrock was one of the few men he did, but Xander owned the damn building so the giant did not intimidate him. He took one look at Harper’s face and knew there wasn’t anything he could say.
“Xander, surely you trust Logan to keep her safe and have fun. You’re her protector, not her keeper.” Ares’s calm voice broke through their stare contest. What could Xander say to that? He couldn’t tell her no without telling her why.
Catching sight of Harper’s hopeful expression twisted his heart. He hated this, but he couldn’t deny her.
“I’ve heard your reputation for pushing boundaries. You better adhere to her limit lists.”
Harper’s face lit up, and Logan grinned. At least he’d made their night.
“You know I will,” Logan said. “See you tomorrow.” He flashed the peace sign and whizzed out of the office.
Xander’s hands clutched into fists. But he caught the small smile around the corners of her mouth as she got her bag out of her drawer and slung it over her shoulder.
“Did Xander tell you we have company tonight?” Ares asked.
“No,” Harper said as the elevator doors pinged open.
“Ian and Charlotte are coming by.”
Xander noticed her face blanched slightly, and he knew it was at the mention of Ian.
“I have some school stuff to catch up on. Someone’s been driving me hard all week,” Harper said.
