Page 39 of Illicit Education
“Master Creed,” she said, voice laced with surprise and a hint of fear. “Is everything okay?”
“Out,” I barked. “I need a minute.”
She whimpered and hurried past me.
I grimaced and shook my head. “Stella, wait.”
The click of her high heels stopped abruptly.
I ran my hands through my hair and stared up at the ceiling. “Everything is fine. I’m sorry for snapping.”
“It’s okay, sir.”
“It’s not. I’m sorry.” I turned to look at her and shame slid over me like a prickly blanket. She worshipped me, this woman. Would do anything I asked of her, both here in the Rabbit Hole and out in the real world. And I had to let her go. It just wasn’t right to keep her as my sub when she worked for me. “Go hydrate before our scene, please.”
She nodded, perking up at the mention of our scheduled time together. “Yes, sir. May I bring you anything?”
“Sure,” I said on a sigh.A stiff drink.“A bottled water, please.”
She nodded and lowered her head, then turned and left me alone.
I turned away from the door and—
“Tell me I’m wrong about what I just saw.” Mistress Sinclair’s authoritative voice filled the small room.
I spun to look at her.
But I couldn’t deny it, couldn’t lie to one of my oldest friends.
Mina sighed and shut the door, then walked to the small loveseat and sat down. “She’s this year’s intern.”
It wasn’t a question, but I answered anyway. “Yes. How did you know?”
Mina pursed her lips, shaking her head. “She told me she was interning at a publishing house. Of course, this is New York”—she laughed almost bitterly—“it could have been any number of houses.”
I sat across from her, hanging my head.
“You…” she began, then her words trailed off.
I raised my head to meet her stare.
“You can’t, Cabot. You know that.”
I swallowed hard.
“You could lose everything.”
I ran my hands through my hair, tugging at the ends. “I know.”
“Do you?”
My eyes narrowed. “Of course I know, Mina.” I stood and began to pace. “I can control myself.”
“I saw the way you looked at her, the way you looked at each other…” She shook her head. “This is dangerous. I’ve seen women want you, Cabot, plenty of them… but I’ve never seen you reciprocate it.”
“Fuck,” I growled.
She was right. Of course she was. We’d been friends for years and I’d never dated anyone seriously, never collared a sub. I kept my life professional, both at work at Reed Enterprises and here in the hole. I didn’t have time for anything else.