Finding Master Right

She watched his face, her eyes attentive and soft, ready for Ba

“Everyone is here but Ambrose and Konstantin, but we knew they couldn’t make it,” he said, trying to build a wall with his words. “I wish Ambrose was here. He was my first choice for you.” If it couldn’t be me.

Kate stepped closer, the tips of her breasts brushing his ribs. “We’ll see. Maybe you could introduce me to him if none of these guys are right.” She blinked up at him, trusting.

Why couldn’t it be him instead of someone else?

She didn’t want him, that’s why. The intensity he needed in a D/s relationship didn’t appeal to her when she was calm and rational. Changing her mind in subspace didn’t count. But if she didn’t want him, why was she looking at him as though she wanted him to kiss her?

It was her instinctual reaction to him. Even if her hormones approved of him, her logic was telling her to steer clear.

With regret, he backed up a step and turned away. “We should get up there. They’re waiting for you.”

“Wait!”

He turned back, and she threw her arms around his neck, then dragged his mouth down to hers. Her kiss was long and sweet, and although he meant to be nonresponsive, he couldn’t help but kiss her back. His chest ached when he gently pushed her away.

“I–I just wanted to say good-bye, and thanks for everything.”

There was nothing left to say. He turned and walked from her, only remembering they were attached when the handle of the leash tugged his hand.

He led her down the hall into a roomful of men in suits. They’d been standing around, talking and sipping at drinks, but they fell silent when Ba

Why do this to himself? Why not just leave her to her own devices to look for a Dom?

He cared too much who she ended up with. If the guy didn’t deserve her, it would make him crazy. He needed more control over her than that, even if it was all he was going to get.

Ba

He signaled for Kate to kneel on the coffee table, which was the twin to the one in his dungeon. She did, looking as though she’d rather run away again. The men all sat on the couches around her, and she stared fixedly at his pant leg.

He could have used a beer. And Ambrose around to make fun of him.

“So, gentlemen, as I said earlier, Kate here is interested in finding the right Dom for her. She had a bad experience with a friend trying to set her up last time, so I thought I should introduce her to some men that were worth her time.”

Something touched his leg. Kate had slid her hand sideways across the coffee table and her fingers had sought him out. For support? He touched the top of her head, and she leaned into him.

“I e-mailed all of you a list of what I think she needs and what she’s into.” He stroked her hair and drew a steadying breath.

“The two of you seem pretty co

It was like a punch in the gut, but he had to do this now before he lost his nerve.

“Our relationship is just a training one. She wanted to learn more about submission, so I taught her what I could. She’s not bonded to me or anything. She’s just nervous right now.” He patted her head and deliberately moved his hand away from her.

“Kate, what are you looking for in a Dom?” Will smiled pleasantly at her, but she remembered not to look up.

“You can look at me,” he added when she opened her mouth to answer to the coffee table.

“Someone kind, who I’m compatible with. In my daily life I’m not a submissive woman, so being twenty-four-seven isn’t going to work.” Why did she suddenly sound so sad? “I like it in the bedroom, but not as a constant way of life.”

Nick smiled. “I’m sure if you were twenty-four-seven material, Ba

“How does she respond to pain and discipline?” Josh’s gaze was too intense for Ba

“Kate responds well to small amounts.” He’d have to be careful here. Some Doms hated dealing with challenging subs. “She’s a very good girl if given the right incentive, but she can get a little bratty. It’s part of her personality, though, so I don’t think that should be crushed. However, that would be between her and her Dom.”

They were all nodding, but the gleam in Josh’s eye worried him. Kate didn’t need a hard-core sadist Dom. That wouldn’t be a good match, unless she was more into pain than he thought.

A discussion about discipline ensued, and he felt the tension gradually ease out of Kate’s body.

Later, the caterer signaled that di

“While we eat, Kate will take turns kneeling next to each of you so that you can get to know her better. You can choose to have her sit on your lap, but while she wears my collar, I know you’ll respect my wishes that she not be touched in a sexual ma

They served themselves, and Ba

Jakob, on Ba

“No, she was vanilla before me. She wasn’t sure she’d be interested in submission, but it runs deep. I think with time and trust she’ll be less cautious about handing over control.”

Jakob turned his attention to eating and watching Kate. At first, seeing her talk to Nick bothered Ba

When she returned to Ba

He leaned down and put his mouth to her ear. “Bad girl. You do that again, and I’ll punish you when our guests leave.”

“Yes, Sir. Sorry.”

Like hell she was.

Her eyes narrowed with interest, and he wondered if spanking her now, in front of all of them, would freak her out too much.

“Go to Will, then to Everard, Josh, and Jakob, in the order of the table. Come back to me to eat your di

She nodded and rose. The grace and sway of Kate’s hips while she walked to Will kept Ba

Kate returned to him, looking slightly bored. He fed her a few cubed potatoes, and with the second bite she brazenly swirled her tongue around his index finger, with none of the others the wiser.

With a low growl, he gave her the Dom eye. Kate smirked, even knowing he’d threatened her earlier.

When Kate got to Everard, he pushed his chair back and settled Kate on his knee. She watched the man shyly through lowered lashes but laughed at his jokes and was gradually drawn into conversation.

Jealousy ate at Ba