Page 107 of Masters of Secrets

Because it hadn’t.

He still wondered what it would be like at the club when he was actually there with Mistress Julie or when people saw him submitting, but at least his closest friends had his back.

Whether or not Law had worked out that he’d played a part in Connor’s ability to be Julie’s secret admirer remained to be seen.

Chapter Eight

Julie

“Oh my God, Law, leave me alone!” Apparently, finding out one of his best friends was submissive meant that all of Law’s protective busybody ways had been transferred from her to Connor. She almost missed the days when he was freaking out about her secret admirer.

Sadly, she hadn’t even gotten the joy of seeing his reaction, though she’d laughed over Connor’s description of it—and laughed even harder when he’d told her about the pegging conversation. While it shouldn’t be funny because there was nothing at all wrong with being pegged or enjoying anal sex as a dominant, something about the idea of Iris pegging Law had cracked her up.

“I’m just asking what your plans are for tonight,” Law replied irritably, as if it were perfectly reasonable for one dominant to question another about an upcoming scene for no reason.

“And I told you to mind your business. Twice now.” Putting her hands on her hips, she glared at him from across their desks, tapping her foot impatiently. Connor was going to be there soon, and she wanted to meet him for dinner—downstairs in Marquis’ main restaurant tonight. They were going to eat there, then go straight up to the room she’d reserved for them, skipping the show.

“You can’t blame me for being protective.” Law bristled. “Connor has never submitted before. He’s completely new to this. And he’s… well, sometimes, he’s not very good about speaking up for himself. If he was, he wouldn’t have hidden the fact he’s submissive for so long.”

It bothered Law, Julie suddenly realized, that Connor had kept that a secret. It wasn’t the secret admirer stuff, and Connor had already mentioned that Law didn’t seem to care that he’d used things Law had told him to send her gifts—it bothered Law that his friend hadn’t felt comfortable sharing his revelation. He didn’t like thinking that he’d made Connor feel like he couldn’t come to him.

So now, he was going overboard on the protectiveness, probably partially in a bid to show support to Connor. It was cute in a wildly frustrating way, which summed up Law as a person.

Julie decided to unbend. Just a little.

“We’re going to have dinner, then I’ve reserved the shoe room.” Also known as the foot fetish room. Julie didn’t have much of a foot fetish, but she had a bit of a shoe one… at least, when it came to trying on very cute, very pretty, or very expensive shoes. Since she didn’t know Connor’s preferences, and it had been the only room open for tonight, it seemed like a good enough place to start.

The rest of the room was well equipped for anyone who wasn’t into feet or shoes, including a queening throne if she felt so inclined. She’d also asked for one of the wooden frames she preferred when using the flogger to be moved into the room. Even though she hadn’t known Connor was submissive, she hadn’t been able to miss how often he’d shown up for her flogging demonstrations.

Was it because he wanted to be flogged?

She was going to find out tonight.

Law frowned.

“That’s all you have planned? Shoes? I don’t know if he’s into that.”

Oh, for Pete’s sake.

She frowned back at him fiercely enough, he had the sense to look abashed, averting his gaze after a short moment.

“I’m sure I can figure out what a submissive is interested in on my own, thank you, Master Law.” Heavy sarcasm laced her tone, making him shift uncomfortably. Especially when she called him Master Law since she wasn’t doing it to be deferential—they’d become good friends, and using the honorific was a way of verbally distancing herself from him and reminding him that he wasn’t above her.

“Sorry,” he muttered again.

“The overprotective mother-henning has to stop. If you want to go mother hen someone, go find Iris.” Not that Iris would take that well, either, but she’d respond by bratting, then Law could beat on her ass a little to get some of his anxiety out, and they’d both be happy. “Or I could go find Iris and give her some pointers about pegging.”

Law gaped at her.

It was a bit of a low blow, but at least it had the desired effect.

The phone on her desk rang, and she immediately picked it up, grateful for the distraction.

“Hello?”

“Mistress Julie, your date is here.” Freddy practically trilled the words, obviously happy to be able to say them. A smile immediately tried to appear on her lips, which wasn’t going to help her intimidate Law, so she pushed it back.

“Thank you, Freddy, I’ll be right out.” Putting down the phone, she glared at Law, hands on her hips. “Connor is here. I’m going to my date. Any last words?”