Page 103 of On His Terms

She kept her head high, as if she were wearing a posture collar. She’d done nothing wrong, and she wasn’t in the least ashamed.

“If she refused to scene with you, I’d say I did an excellent job.”

Chelsea almost cheered. My hero.

“And I’ll tell you this, little prick, be grateful you didn’t harm her, because I would have fucking killed you.”

In shock, she blinked up at Master Alexander.

Flipping his scarf, Evan C walked, or rather stalked, toward the bar and Brandy.

Master Alexander draped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her closer. “What the hell happened?”

“I figured out I want nothing to do with him.” She smiled. “If it’s all right with you, Sir, I would like to go home.”

He nodded. Purposefully, he moved her toward the stairs, thanked Master Damien for his hospitality, then headed outside, where he turned over his claim check to the valet.

She shook her head. To think that at one time she’d thought Master Alexander was a tough Dominant. He treated her more like a princess than a submissive. She wished every man behaved so courteously.

When the vehicle arrived, he helped her inside then reached across her to fasten her safety belt before closing her inside.

As he pulled away, she stared at the darkened landscape, saying nothing.

After the last few weeks, how did she go back to her regular life?

She needed time alone. Lots of it.

Master Alexander waited until they had summited Berthoud Pass before looking at her. “Do you want to talk about it?”

“There’s nothing really to say. He has a different opinion of submission than I do.” She looked over at the man who had taught her so much. Since the moon was hidden by clouds, his face was in shadows. That didn’t matter, though. She knew every plane and angle intimately.

“Are you hurt?”

She straightened her shoulders. “Not at all.” In fact, she had more strength and courage than she’d ever had—gifts she’d received from her two-week journey into submission. “I’ve never been better, Sir.”

He took his gaze from the road long enough to cast a quick glance in her direction. “Seriously?”

“I owe you a lot, Sir. I wouldn’t have handled Master Evan C as well as I did without everything I’ve learned from you. I used the club safe word. He didn’t immediately honor it, so I told him I’d scream the fucking place down. And I would have done it.” She touched his thigh. “Thank you.”

“I’ve never been prouder of you.” For a moment, he closed his hand around hers.

When he pulled it away, she put on her brave face and pretended her heart wasn’t breaking. Facing down Evan C had been easy for one reason.

She was in love with Master Alexander.

The truth destroyed her.

Chapter Thirteen

“What the hell are you doing here?” Bleary eyed, Alex looked up from the computer in his home office, where he’d spent every moment from the second he woke up this morning—if he was here, even doing nothing—he could pretend he was working. His brother stood on the threshold, an unwelcome intrusion. “Don’t you believe in knocking? Ringing the bell? Texting before you show up uninvited?”

“I did all three,” Gavin replied with an easy shrug. “When you didn’t answer, I let myself in.”

Though Alex scowled threateningly, Gavin strode across the floor to grab the alcohol decanter and remove it from the room. “We’re not fucking doing this again.”

Christ. Damn nag.

Last weekend, Gavin had shown up, demanding to know what the hell was wrong with Alex.