Page 37 of Dance for Me
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Chapter Seven
At ten minutes to eight the next night, Braun kicked back in the seating pit with the Masters. Connie was noticeably tardy but had sent word with Loki that she may be up to an hour late due to work commitments.
The hot topic was, of course, last night’s Bodie hunt through the club; Jasper had voiced his displeasure several times already, and Braun promised he wouldn’t use the sadist as a fear tactic again. It wasn’t fair on either Jasper or Bodie, but it had been necessary.
Liam had also vocalized his unhappiness with the situation, not quite as forcefully as Jasper but strong enough Braun knew his friend was worried for Bodie. Especially as Braun had kept her hidden away in his office all night—they’d both fallen asleep on the couch, and it hadn’t been a hardship to wake this morning with an armful of sleeping subbie starfished on top of him, facedown.
“I still can’t believe she’s agreed to give this a go,” Liam muttered, sipping lemonade from a glass. Ice tinkled against the sides musically whenever he moved his arm. “You better look after her, Fitzpatrick, or that pretty face won’t be attracting the ladies anymore.”
Braun was pretty damn sure his days of subbie-searching were over if his heart had anything to say about the matter. There were steel cables wrapped around his feelings, leading back to his raven-haired sub. “Calm your jets, William. I’ve every intention of toning my dominant urges down for the time being. Until Boadicea acclimates to the lifestyle, I’ll treat her in the same manner I would any virgin subbie who comes here to explore. Firmly but fairly.”
Jasper hissed between his teeth. “Goddamn it, and I broke out my favorite cane as a welcoming present just for her. Fucking spoilsport.”
“I know, I know. What can I say, I’m getting soft in my old age. Once you hit the big four-zero, caning the sass out of a perky rear end just doesn’t hold the same appeal.” Braun deadpanned.
Loki crowed with laughter. “What a crock of bullshit. I’ve seen you reduce more than one subbie to grateful tears bent over the spanking horse, buddy. Just because you hit forty doesn’t mean the natural urges fade.” His face held a touch of uncertainty as he thought about it. “Does it?”
Atticus thumped him on the back. “Gullible as fuck, Loki. You never disappoint.”
“It’s a valid question!” Loki protested.
“We’ll be dominant ‘til the end of our days,” Jasper stepped in smoothly. “I for one plan to die with my cane in hand, listening to some sweet masochist cry while her welted ass rides my cock. That, boys, is how to die happy.”
While laughter filled the room, Braun checked his watch and frowned. His brand-new subbie was cutting her time down to the last minutes. They’d agreed she would be by his side by eight p.m. and the seconds were ticking past without pause.
He glanced towards his office. If she wasn’t out when the clock hit eight, their dynamic would kick off on rocky ground. His plans for tonight didn’t involve a spanking for lateness, but they could be adjusted. He just hated to do it on their first night.
Ninety seconds.
C’mon, darlin’, you can do this.
They’d spoken before she disappeared into his office to change and she’d seemed quiet, reserved, but he considered it a point in his favor she’d actually shown up to the club. Her stage schedule was clear—he’d double-checked that. Her attention needed to be on him and only him tonight, not on whether she was supposed to be up there under the lights.