express permission. If there’s something you want her to tell me, just ask her. Everything else stays with her and her alone.”
“She’s your friend. You’re her boss.”
Braun hummed in agreement. “Connie and I are very good friends, yes. Have been for quite a few years now. Doesn’t mean she’ll violate your trust in her, Bodie. She thinks too much of herself and her reputation to ever break someone’s confidence. And as for me being her boss...we don’t have that type of relationship. I own Avalon; she’s a member here. A trusted, valued member who through her own actions earned her title as Mistress. Just as her morals, her hard work, and her nature earned her respect in her field.”
“What if I...” She peered up at him and he realized just how insecure she could be when her fears got hold of her. “What if the words won’t come out?”
“Well now, I guess that’s a good question.” He slipped his hand into her cocoon, the backs of his fingers skimming warm, smooth flesh. He hated how she tensed, really fucking hated that her first reaction to touch was always to shy away. Finding her hands tucked together, he grasped one, linking his fingers with hers. “If they won’t, I guess there’s a reason. Connie can help you find what that reason is and how to get past it.”
“M-Master Braun?”
Irritation welled up inside him as Bodie flinched, breaking vital eye contact and angling her head into his shoulder. Struggling to keep his voice easy, he focused on Jasper’s wannabe stalker submissive dancing nervously from foot to foot on the other side of the table. “Yes, subbie?”
“I’m really sorry to bother you, Master Braun,” she gulped when he arched a brow at her, “but Master Jasper asked me to come tell you the Mistress is waiting for you in your office.” Her voice cracked on a squeak.
Oh, sweet little thing, he’s going to eat you for breakfast, lunch, and dinner if you’re not smart. “What’s your name, subbie?”
“My name, Master Braun?” She blinked in surprise.
“Your name, subbie,” he affirmed, amused by her bafflement. If she really was stuck on Jasper and ended up scening with him, the sadist would be toast. Jasper had been known to turn down more than one subbie who thought she had the stones to survive him—Braun wondered if his friend would have the strength to refuse this one; she seemed sweet and completely flappable, but there was something about her that screamed masochist.
“Oh, I’m Anarchy.” She flushed beautifully and Braun knew Jasper would just love marking up that flawless skin. “Everyone calls me Archie.”
Anarchy, how...apt. Braun offered her an innocuous smile. “Thank you for passing along the message, Archie. Go back to Master Jasper and tell him he has my approval; you’ve done well.” When she all but vibrated on the spot with joy, Braun stifled a laugh. She was a delightful little thing. “Go on now, subbie. Don’t keep him waiting.”
She quailed a bit then. “Oh no, Sir, he’s not playing with me tonight. He’s with Tiffany.” The edge of bitter jealous seemed out of character for the sweet subbie, saying volumes about what she thought of her sister submissive. “I’m just the errand girl, Master Braun.”
“Would you like me to find you someone to play with this evening, Archie?”
She shook her head, shyly hiding behind the curtain of blonde hair falling over her face. “Thanks, Sir, but I think I’m going to, ah, go watch Master Jasper at work. If you don’t mind?”
Polite little subbie. “Your time here is yours, Archie. Have a good night.” When she skipped off, literally, Braun shook his head in wonderment. Some subs had more energy than they could contain. “All right, my precious subbie, time to make a move.”
“I don’t want to.”
“That’s a shame, little one. As your Dom, I’m overriding I don’t want to and replacing it with Master knows best.” He rose with ease, sidestepping out of the booth. He swore her heartbeat was audible above the chatter of the club. “Just give Connie a chance, that’s all I ask. Hell, sit and talk about the weather if that’s what you want.”
Her nails dug into his skin through his shirt. A stranded kitten clinging frantically to the last inch of solid ground, claws hooked into anything it could. The trouble was this little kitten had a lifeline right beside her if she’d only reach out and snag it. “Braun, please.”
“Tell me the truth. Are you frightened of Connie