between us, and I stifled my groan. I had no idea why words sometimes came out distorted when I was speaking to Charles. Earlier, when I’d told him I had use for him on his hands and knees, I had to think fast to ward off the awkward moment.
“I’ll hold you to that.”
I rose from the chair, and he waved a hand at me. “No need to get up. I can see myself out.”
I simply smiled at him. “What kind of host would that make me? Come on.”
I placed a hand at the small of his back. Complete reflex, and by the time I realized what I’d done, it would’ve seemed too abrupt to remove my hand. His back stiffened a bit, but then he relaxed as we crossed the living room to the hall and outside.
“See you later, boy,” Charles said to Lucky, who lounged in the hall, but the dog covered his eyes with his paws and ignored Charles.
“Ungrateful beast,” Charles muttered, and I laughed. My hand slipped downward, perilously close to those hard buns in the jeans. Charles had a lot going on in the back.
“He just doesn’t want to see you go.”
Charles snorted but didn’t respond as I removed my hand from his back and opened the door for us. I walked him all the way to the car parked in the yard. When his driver started to get out, I waved him back in.
“I’ll get it.”
“Are you always this chivalrous?” Charles asked.
“Pretty much. Blame Dad. It’s how he raised me.”
“To look out for the elderly?” We came to a halt at the car, and he glanced up at me, his jaw squared as if waiting for me to agree with him.
“A lot of things come to my mind when I think of you, Charles Moore, but elderly is not one of them.”
He stared at me in shock, completely taken aback by the closest I’d come to confessing just how much it took out of me not to back him up against the car and kiss him senseless. Kiss him so hard he’d realize he deserved a lot more than broken marriages and a life full of lies.
I opened the car door for him while he seemed to be struggling with words. “Have a good evening, Charles.”
He climbed into the car, and I closed the door. He continued to stare at me through the glass as if still trying to figure out what I’d meant.
I’d overstepped my boundaries. I knew I had, but all day I could tell he’d had the wrong conception about why I cared about his mental and emotional well-being. Of why I was so adamant in him spending the day with me.
He thought it was simply because Declan asked me to, but I wouldn’t have changed anything about today, even if Declan hadn’t said a word to me about Charles.
A couple of hours later, I walked into Heath’s BDSM club, becoming hyper aware of the scenes going on around me. I hadn’t been back since the episode with Ridge. Several times Heath had called to ask me when I was coming around again, but I always made something up about being too busy.
I still wasn’t certain if I was in the right place when I spotted Heath sitting on a leather sofa in his gear, smoking a fat cigar. He sat apart from the other Doms and subs, petting the younger man who sat on a cushion at Heath’s feet. The boy wore nothing but a jockstrap, a harness, and a muzzle. He had fresh welts across his back.
“Master August.” Heath stood to acknowledge me, and it never failed to amaze me that this man who had such prestige in our community gave me the kind of respect he did. More than ever, I didn’t deserve it.
“Master Heath.”
I almost gave him my hand, but he pulled me into an affectionate embrace. Heath was like a father to me. He often spoke about my accomplishments and used me to demonstrate when nurturing other Dominants or breaking in subs.
A lump formed in my throat as I patted his strong shoulder, and I felt like crying at the affection in his embrace. After Charles had left, I’d felt bereft, and I needed a scene tonight to rid me of the ache in my chest and the desire to claim someone who I had no business picturing as a sub.
“It’s good to see you.” Heath released me and returned to his seat, patting the space beside