I groan, my shoulders dropping.“So everyone knows…”
“Yes.”
“They must want to push me off the roof.”
Mr.Hollenbeck frowns.“Why?Because you’re sleeping with the boss?”
“Yes!” I exclaim, throwing my hands up.“Of course.”
He shakes his head.“I really don’t think that’s the case, Kelsey.I haven’t heard a single grumble, and believe me, I have people reporting to me.”
Hendrix chuckles.“You have spies making sure no one is badmouthing my girlfriend?”
“Yep.”He grins.“I would have nipped that shit in the bud and fast, but it hasn’t happened, or if it has, it’s been too discreet to get back to me.”
I rub my jaw.This is not what I was expecting.My panic is real.Surely people are talking about me behind my back.How the hell could they not?They’ve probably kept it on the downlow so they wouldn’t get caught.No one appreciates finding out the new girl slept her way to the top.How else could they possibly see this situation?
A knock on the door has me turning my head.
“Come in,” Hollenbeck calls out.
The door opens, and Josephine leans in.“Your first appointment is on their way up, sir.”
“Thank you.”
Josephine backs out and shuts the door.
Hendrix stands and reaches for my hand to pull me up with him.“Thanks for meeting with us.It was…enlightening.”
Mr.Hollenbeck slaps him on the back in that bro-hug way men do.“I’m beyond happy for you.Now you can stop sneaking around.Will I see you at Edge this weekend?”
My eyes bug out.“You’re a member of Edge?”My voice squeaks.
“Yeah.I’ve seen you there a few times, but I stayed out of sight.It wasn’t too hard since you didn’t know me well.I was just one man in the sea of members.”
I swallow hard, all the blood draining from my face.He’s seen me… Naked, no doubt.Oh.My.God.
“Kelsey… What happens at Edge stays at Edge.Always.I would never breathe a word about your membership or any other detail of your preferences.I don’t want you to feel like you can’t be yourself at the club if you happen to see me.Pretend I’m a stranger.Do your thing.”
My tongue is stuck to the roof of my suddenly dry mouth.Holy fucking fuck.I can’t form another word as Hendrix guides me out of the office, past Josephine and the waiting client, and into his office.
He shuts the door, turns around, and pins me in, framing me with his palms on either side of my head.“Take a breath, baby.”
My eyes widen.“Hendrix,” I hiss.I’m shaking.My nerves are shot to shit.“Your business partner has seen me submitting at Edge.Naked.”My voice would be shrill, but somehow I find a way to keep the high-pitched manic words muffled.
“He’s not going to tell a soul, Kels.”
Apparently, he never even told Hendrix.For two months, the man saw me at his club without mentioning it.That does indicate a level of discretion.Considering how strong their friendship is, it wouldn’t surprise me if Mr.Hollenbeck had called Hendrix the very first time he saw me.It’s telling that he never said a word, but he also had no idea Hendrix had an interest in me that went beyond pushing my resume to the top of the pile.Granted, that alone could have made Mr.Hollenbeck take notice.
I tip my head back, nearly banging it on the door.“What a clusterfuck.”
Hendrix, undaunted by my meltdown, kisses my neck.“Such a potty mouth on such a beautiful woman.”
“Hendrix, Mr.Hollenbeck has seen me naked.”This is my only thought.
“And I suspect he’ll see you naked again tomorrow night if he’s there.Exhibitionism is a kink you enjoy.That doesn’t mean I would let someone else touch you.Not sexually.I’m not into sharing.Perhaps I would allow another Dom to scene with you if they had expertise in something you were interested in trying that I’m not familiar with.But I would be with you the entire time.It would never be sexual except possibly you getting aroused from holding my gaze.”
His hands slide to my neck.“Sometimes you will recognize people you know at Edge.If it hasn’t happened yet, that’s a fluke.It’s a popular club.It will eventually happen.You have to be able to let it slide off your back.They can look all they want if that’s something that gets you hot, but you’re mine, Kelsey.They can’t have you.”
