“What makes you think that?” He was trying to sound strong, but there was hesitancy in it.
“You put the cage on—mycage.” His focus dropped to his lap. “I’m going to take a wild guess here and assume you aren’t used to giving up any control.”
“No, ma’am.”
Interesting. He was already dropping into a sub role with me. I never would have thought there was this side to the Owl’s Talon. Studying him for a moment, I noticed there was a softer look in his eyes, almost like confusion. Gavriel wasn’t one for fidgeting, but his fingers tapped on the arm of the chair. He was having a hard time meeting my gaze, and most of all, the strength in his voice was gone. But he didn’t sound weak.
“Are you struggling to understand why you are being submissive to me?” He nodded, and I took a deep breath. “Alright. Do you want me, your partner in this business, to be your domme?”
His attention snapped to my face as he tried to deny it, but the words obviously died on his tongue. “How are you doing this to me?”
“I am just being myself. I also don’t like you much, and I suspect that you are used to women and men both fawning over you. I won’t.” I waited and let him mull that over a moment before I asked again, “Do you want me to be your domme?”
His gaze finally met mine, and I could see the pleading there. He didn’t give puppy eyes or anything of that sort, but I could see his pure desperation. “Yes, please, ma’am.”
Holy fucking shit.
I leaned back in my chair, the worn leather molded around me. “In all things?”
“In private. You would have to stay out of the family business.” His tone was stronger then. Negotiation. This was something he was good at. Comfortable with.
Nodding, I understood, but then interjected, “As I stated yesterday, you will treat me as a partner in this business, but willyou also kneel before me and give full submission? How are you going to do that?”
“Business is business. If it is not a business discussion, you . . .” He paused and shifted. “. . . are in control. I will trust in you that as my domme, will keep that line.”
“Noted. Before this discussion goes further, there are a couple of things. First, I am a professional dominatrix. I currently have ten clients, none of whom include physically penetrative or oral sex. Is that a problem?”
He blinked at me, sat up straighter, and some of the swagger that I knew and hated about him returned. “That’s how you have been able to do this so naturally. This is just who you are.”
“This is just who I am.”
His head tipped to the side and he furrowed his brows. It was such a childlike maneuver that I wasn’t prepared for his question. “Are you manipulating me?”
“No!” I surprised even myself at how strongly I answered the question.
At least, I don’t think I am. Am I? Well, sort of.In this? No. Sure, I’d pushed for him to give into me. But this, domination? If he told me no, I would back off. This . . . was unexpected. Hewantedme to be his domme. He was agreeing to it.
Gavriel’s eyes were inquisitive as he thought things through. “And what will this dynamic be with us?”
“You had a taste of me yesterday. You saw what you could have . . . if you are good. You push me like that again and there will be repercussions.” The least of which was going to be a knife through the heart or a bullet in his head for killing my father, but as quickly as that thought went through my mind, it was gone. This part of me, Lady E, didn’t want him to die. No, Lady E wanted to take care of her Pretty Boy. Make sure he had his favorite things. Make sure he was satisfied and happy.
I leaned my head back on the chair and sighed as I held his gaze. Lady E would be ashamed of me even letting the thought go through her mind of abusing the trust he was giving me. What kind of domme was I?
A fucking good one who wants revenge. Enjoy your time together. Learn from him what you can. Take it a day at a time. But most of all, don’t catch feelings.
“I don’t like to repeat myself, and I feel as though I’ve done so too many times since we walked in here. So, is it a problem that I have others I domme for?”
“No, as long as we are fluid-locked exclusive. You said that my cock is yours.”
I lifted my chin as I sat up straighter to look at him. “You wear my cage.”
He nodded. “I do, willingly. Will I be the only one to have your pussy? Or am I relegated to sharing?”
The thought of someone else intimately touching me right now had my body revolting. My skin crawled, my mouth dried out, and I felt my shoulders tense. The realization hit me hard..
I want him. Only him.
“My subs aren’t allowed contact. Most of my clients are in it for either the degradation, the loss of control, the various nonsexual play, or one literally pays me to punish her into cleaning her house. Exclusive is my next requirement, fluid locked, as you would say.” His shoulders relaxed a little, and some of the tightening in his face loosened. It was so strange to see him not show any of the swagger anddon’t fuck with meenergy. “Gavriel, I want to make something else clear. I don’t want you to change who you are. I expect you to follow my directions. I also expect younotto follow my directions so that punishments can be doled out. I expect your submission, as long as you are willing to give it to me while we are in private, but I don’t want you to become mashed potatoes.”
