annoyed him. They were mere acquaintances, so why did she have
that horrid shivery “oh God what will he say or do” feeling she got before she
went to the dentist? "I hate animal related nicknames. They make me want
to baa or cluck or whatever. I have a perfectly good name, which my parents
gave me, and if anyone wants me to answer, that's the name they use when they
address me." Grief, do I sound pompous or what? "Look,
Dominic, the others are all happily checking out the floggers on each other or
pulling straws for who gets to feel a Wartenburg Wheel on their arms or whatever. That's fine. Now please. Can.
We. Talk?"
"They
won't be. Tonight is much more watch, not play. You know for someone not
interested you know an awful lot. How many people, not interested, have heard of a Wartenburg wheel?"
"Lots
I should think. They read."
"Hmm. If you say so." He stared at her, and then almost as if he couldn't help it trailed one finger
down her cheek.
His
touch scorched her skin. How she didn't gasp, Nina had no idea. She was darned
sure her mouth dropped open and she gaped like a fish.
"However,
I think we must talk. Follow me." He turned without waiting to see if she
followed, and walked toward a different door than the one the others had used.
"Hold
it. Where are you taking me?" Nina stood where she was. Who did he think
he was giving her orders? A Dom, that's who . She needed to know more. After all, Athol might
have paired her off with the guy, but she didn't know him from Adam.
No way am I disappearing into wherever
without letting someone know where that wherever is. She mentally winced at her
tortured wording, but held fast to the sentiments. It was only safe, and sane, to
do so, and unless he agreed she couldn't add consensual to her thoughts.
He
stopped and turned around. His expression was unfathomable, but it made Nina
want to check her nipples weren't standing out. They felt tight enough to poke
through her top. Damn the man, his
presence is just too overpowering. Even though she had no inclination to bow
to his demands, he still made her feel like a chastised schoolgirl.And he hadn't done or said anything to
make her feel that way. It was all in his look.
"To
talk, pet. As you requested."
"I
also said I'm not a pet." Nina gathered her wits. That nickname, or
whatever you'd call it, was enough to make her determined to stand her ground. She
fished her phone out of her pocket. "Where do I say?"
He
grinned.
Sheesh,
that should be bottled and sold as an
aphrodisiac. Even I want to roll over and say “take me, I'm yours”.
"Well?"
"Who
are you ringing? All your mates will have turned their phones in. And you
shouldn't have yours."
She
hadn't thought of that. "I'm not in the club yet, so we bypassed that bit.
What about the dungeon masters?"
Nic
shook his head. "Nope."
Suddenly
Nina remembered something. "You have one of those mini pager, walky-talky things. Every dungeon master or Dom on duty does."
"Now
how do you know that, I wonder?" Nic raised one eyebrow. "No matter
you'll tell me later."
Not if I can help it.
"So?"
He
stared at her. It took all of Nina's resolve not to fidget. Grief, he makes a ball gagged sub a
chatterbox. Just as she wanted to scream or thump him, he spoke.
"Yes,
I do."
"Then
may I borrow it?"
He
stared and then raised one eyebrow. "Why?"
"Oh
for fuck's sakes, this isn't twenty questions." The words shot out of her
mouth in a staccato rhythm. "And I know, I know, my language is crap. But
seriously, I'm not going anywhere other than into the main club with you unless
you tell me where and I tell someone else close by. So I reckon if I tell Athol
that'd do."
"I
won't ask how you know Athol … yet. Or that someone has some explanations to
make. Here." He handed a tiny oblong walky-talky to her. "Press three
and leave a message. He'll be alerted it's there. We're going into the small staff
lounge. No one else will be there at present. Be warned I'm in a need to know
mood.